ABOARD U.S. COAST GUARD CUTTER WALNUT — The crew of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Walnut is scheduled to begin routine maintenance to aids to navigation in American Samoa Tuesday.
The Walnut’s crew will work on the islands of Ta’u and Ofu Tuesday and will provide annual maintenance to fixed and floating aids in the port of Pago Pago and the island of Tutuila for the remainder of the week.
Several navigation aids require the crew to hike up steep grades and through thick jungle to access the sites. The Walnut, a 225-foot sea-going buoy tender homeported in Honolulu, uses shore parties, small boats and a dive team in addition to the cutter’s buoy deck to service aids. Crewmembers repair and position aids to ensure safe navigation for all vessels in American Samoa.
After departing Pago Pago, the Walnut will return to Honolulu with a member of the National Data Buoy Center (NDBC). The Walnut’s crew will assist the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the NDBC collect weather data. Coast Guard cutter crews help to predict weather, tides and currents by assisting in the deployment and maintenance of NOAA and NDBC buoys.
